Electric vehicles are just getting better, cooler, more sensible and economical, and hard to pass up.With your new $50,000 Tesla Model S Sedan, you'll be able to go 2 hours down the highway and 2 hours back with lots of charge to spare for a total cost of $5, or 2.5 cents per mile, with an equivalent gasoline mileage (at $2.25 per gallon) of 90 miles per gallon.
But, the coolest thing about electric vehicles is the silence. I know on my electric scooter, it is the best feature. I can imagine how fantastic it would be going down the highway in a car that is making no more noise than it does when it is shut off, sitting in your garage.
Additionally, Tesla has designed the batteries to be swappable, so with infrastructure changes at gas stations eventually it will take less time to "recharge" than it will to "fill up."
Currently though, you can tack on 100 miles to the car's range with 45 minutes of charging. Tesla provides its cars with a 100-mile backup battery as well. That means you could travel 500 miles... 7 hours... to an overnight destination, with a 45-minute stop for lunch.
Assuming that your average new gasoline car gets 30 miles to the gallon, and is driven 12,000 miles per year, and gas costs $2.25 per gallon, the Tesla will save $600 per year over purchasing any other new car... and be cooler and cleaner than any other car on the road.
The only 2 problems I can see right now with owning an electrical car have to do with the rare times when you go on that above-mentioned 500-mile trip: That when you get to your hotel (1) you can't drive again for another 45 minutes or (2) you can't find a parking place that is close to an electrical plug. Other than that rare instance, what's the downside?
6 comments:
"when you get to your hotel (1) you can't drive again for another 45 minutes or (2) you can't find a parking place that is close to an electrical plug. Other than that rare instance, what's the downside?"
You're kidding, right ?
$50K price tag for starters.
Toyota Prius, $25k, 50MPG. End of story.
I could be wrong but just like your gas powered scooter from hell. These electric autos are high maintenance machines and every country has a lack of experienced mechanics to care and fix them. The dealer would probably be the only option and I would expect a long wait. Maybe Im wrong just a thought.
What's the downside?
That $50,000 cost.
Anon #1: Seriously, how often do you drive 300 miles before returning back home? For most people, it's maybe a couple of times per year.
As for the price, $50K for an uncommon and low-production 4-door luxury sedan isn't too outrageous. It's less than most Lexus, BMWs, Cadillacs, or Audis. It's certainly a better-looking car than a Prius.
Anon #2: I don't know really.
GREAT reporting Jil!! These things can’t come into full production quick enough. What people don't realize is that we need to mainstream this technology while it is offered or it has a tendency to go away… for a VERY long time.
The prices will come down when people start weaning themselves off the oil teat. Battery technology will improve and once economies of scale hit, shipping crude oil 10,000+ miles will seem pretty Neanderthal. (BTW, my first four-function {+ - × ÷} calculator cost $127 in 1972 dollars… my first Windows PC was $3,200 in 1995. What do you think you can buy them for today and how much more robust are they?)
Besides, how many of us actually commute more than 60 miles a day anyway? It just takes a commitment to the technology and a bit of clock. Heck, when the battery technology catches up, all you’ll have to do is swap them out and keep going. Can't wait!!
They say you can tell the intelligence of a man by his degree of open mindedness. You’re to be congratulated for being an early adopter!!
Keep up the good work…
Turk in Omaha
P.S. Waiting to hear about the solar array on your roof for recharging your e-cycle’s batteries!
Hi Turk,
Thanks for the comment. I'd love to have a solar-powered house. I'm in the right place for it. I might actually look into getting a solar panel to run my AC or something. I rent though, so there isn't any sense in doing out the whole house... but a solar panel plus battery plus air conditioner setup might be an option.
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